Importers claim BA inflated surcharges

British Airway's £340 million bill to settle price-fixing claims against the airline could get bigger after a class action from out-of-pocket cargo importers was launched in the High Court.

BA has already admitted guilt and paid fines to competition regulators over the price-fixing of surcharges. Four current or former executives are due in court next week to face criminal charges.

While the scandal has been focused on the cost to passengers of the price-fixing, import companies Emerald Supplies and Southern Glass House Producers today launched an action claiming money they lost in inflated freight surcharges. The action is being co-ordinated by Cohen Milstein, a law firm that represented passengers in the case that won £73.5 million of compensation from BA and Virgin Atlantic, the airline with which BA colluded.

"This is a groundbreaking development, and we expect other claimants to join this action," said Cohen Milstein partner Anthony Maton. "Due to BA's unlawful actions, hundreds of businesses have suffered substantial losses not to mention reduced sales as their prices increased to cover additional shipping costs."